Week of April 27, 2009
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Low mortgage rates, high affordability and government programs designed to encourage home purchases are continuing to spur home sales this spring despite an iffy economy. The week ending April 18 was the fourth consecutive week of pending sales activity that was more than 20 percent higher than during the same week in 2008. There were 1,083 pending sales for the week, up 21.3 percent from this time last year. It was also the third consecutive week of 1,000-plus unit sales, a first-time occurrence since 2006. All these sales are quickly whisking inventory off the market at a time when new listing inventory is not growing at its typically robust spring rate. The number of total homes for sale is down 18.4 percent from a year ago at 26,318. As a result, the gap between this year's supply of homes and that of previous years continues to grow. Click the logo below or click here for this week's full report. Visit Market Info for more research reports.
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Member Appreciation Week is Next Week: May 4 – 8 • FREE grilled lunch – Wed and Thurs, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the MAAR parking lot Are you a REALTOR® who reads? If not, then stop here. If you do read, then check this out: ALL members will be eligible for two daily prize drawings during Member Appreciation Week even if you don't take advantage of our free classes and foodstuffs. If you happen to come by the office next week, you'll have more opportunities to win. There will be six drawings per day—two for ALL members and four for Member Appreciation Week participants. \IMPORTANT: A unique Membership Appreciation Week registration form (click here) needs to be completed in order to attend the special classes available from May 4 to May 8. This event is open to MAAR members only. Class seating is limited but many FREE credit-approved CE classes are still available! On the registration form, you are asked to select a first choice followed by two alternate choices. CLASS DETAILS | REGISTRATION FORM (required!)
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Foreclosures and Short Sales Report – Q1 2009 Update For an in-depth look at the role of lender-mediated properties in our region, dig into the Q1 2009 Update to "Foreclosures and Short Sales in the Twin Cities Housing Market." For a neighborhood-level look at lender-mediated properties, give this exciting new interactive data tool a twirl.
ACCESS INTERACTIVE DATA TOOL | VIEW Q1 2009 UPDATE We welcome your feedback. Please contact Jeff Allen, MAAR Research Manager, at jeffa@mplsrealtor.com to share your thoughts. |
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The April 2009 Monthly Skinny Video is available. YouTube version | High-Quality MPG version Please feel free to share this whenever and however you'd like. For other great stuff like this, visit our market insight blog, also called "The Skinny," by clicking here.
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As the spring market brings out potential buyers, it also brings out potential criminal offenders.
We had a recent report of a group of people entering an open house where two people kept the REALTOR® busy while another stole the seller's laptop and put it in a baby carrier of all things. Your personal safety is more important than personal items, so never try to stop a criminal in the act or go after them. If you see suspicious behavior, leave the house and call 911. Visit our online Safety Kit for more safety tips.
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Transferring MLS Access from Another Association Agents who transfer MLS access from another association within the RMLS to MAAR also need to transfer their SafeMLS token serial number. MAAR staff will delete the token serial number from the agent's previous MLS number. The agent will need to re-enroll the token via Matrix under the new MAAR MLS number. |
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MongoFAX Online Training! Training is not required but is highly recommended. Click here to register for one of our upcoming webinars, or contact the MongoFAX Training team at training@mongonet.net. MongoFAX Customer Support: 1.866.482.2229. Source: MongoFAX®, Minnesota Association of REALTORS® |
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The site launched on April 23 and was able to garner some press right away. |
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Education and Professional Development
Newest Added Class—Home Buyer Seminars! April 28, eEssentials 6–SOLD OUT! Membership Appreciation Week classes (May 4–8) are for active MAAR members only. You MUST use this registration form and email or fax it to Amy Ransom at amyr@mplsrealtor.com or 952.908.2621. May 11, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., RSA Senior Housing Tour—one seat left! (Not eligible for $99 Pass) CE From the Convenience of Home—New Discount for Online Courses! Register now and take $5.00 off each individual course or $10.00 off a package. Simply use one of the discount codes listed below during checkout. Hurry! These offers expire on May 31, 2009.
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Green By Design Register now for the 4th annual statewide Green by Design conference and training aimed at providing housing developers, builders, contractors, architects, city planners, environmentalists, funders, and other professionals the tools needed to build energy efficient, healthy, and sustainable housing. Multiple tracks will be offered, including sessions by local and national experts that focus on various elements of the Green Communities criteria (a set of nationally recognized green affordable housing standards) and other related topics. Examples of successful green building projects, including both multifamily and single-family developments, new construction and rehabilitation, will be highlighted throughout the conference. Keynote Speaker Hunter Lovins Topics of interest include:
Source: Minnesota Green Communities
Sustainable Design & New Technology Conference
Program Agenda:
Source: Real Estate Communications Group; REjournals.com  |
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This month marks the 41st anniversary of the landmark Fair Housing Act. It is the annual reminder to evaluate your business practices and conversations with clients, employees and the public. We offer tools and classes to ensure awareness of the industry's high regard for professionalism. Our Tools: Find Code of Ethics and other Fair Housing resources at realtor.org. |
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2009 Tax Data Updates: Getting updated data available to you is dependent upon how quickly each county can provide the complete information and resolve any problems. For each of the 30 counties, NorthstarMLS must:
Updated tax data is important to the services you provide to your customers. Be assured that that everything possible is being done to expedite the process. Fewer Fines and Better Data—No Problem! Of these, 85% were corrected without a fine being assessed (or the fine was waived because of first violation and/or having RMLS do education sessions at the agent's office). The goal of NorthstarMLS is to educate all users on the importance of following the MLS rules. These rules contribute to a cooperative, fair and orderly marketplace. NorthstarMLS does not seek to penalize except for repeat violations or more serious violations (such as entering a listing into the MLS without a valid contract). RMLS staff is available to give Rules & Regulations presentations at brokers' weekly staff meetings. If you are a broker and interested in this opportunity, contact them at 651.251.3210 to schedule an appointment. Once again, the most commonly violated MLS rule (58%) is leaving a listing in Pending status more than 24 hours beyond the projected close date. The reason for this rule is to not only ensure accurate data but to make the Closed listing available for industry critical CMAs and market statistics. If the Projected Closing Date changes, please take a moment to edit that field in the MLS so that you do not get a notice. We appreciate everyone's efforts to keep listing status up to date. Other common rules violations that we would like to see go down:
For more information on the MLS Rules & Regulations, go to NorthstarMLS.com and select "Rules & Regs" from the main menu. If you have any questions, call 651.251.3210. New Fields Now Available: In Foreclosure, Lender Owned, Potential Short Sale Data entered into the Lender Owned or Potential Short Sale fields is now displaying on Matrix. The fields are on the Property Full Displays just above the Contact section where the current "In Foreclosure" field is. They will only display if there is data in the field. If not, they will be suppressed. The PDF Reports will also soon be adjusted to display the new fields. Remember that whatever you had selected on your listings for the combined "In Foreclosure/Lender Owned" field will now be selected for the separate "In Foreclosure" field and the "Lender Owned" field. The "Potential Short Sale" field will be blank unless you edit the listing to make a selection. If you have questions, contact the NorthstarMLS Help Desk at 651.251.5456 or mlshelp@northstarmls.com. Source: NorthstarMLS |
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Effective Referral Strategies Referral Expo 2009 is a "virtual expo" conducted over the phone. It includes a stellar line-up of authors, successful business people and consultants that will give our members tools and ideas on how to build and grow their business through referrals. Ten incredible referral experts have agreed to donate their time and expertise to help MAAR members flourish during these challenging times. MAAR is a co-sponsor this event, and MAAR member Nobu Hata will be one of the ten speakers.
Source: nsight Marketing |
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e-PRO® – Next Workshop is Thursday, May 14 Attend the InternetCrusade® Technology Workshop featuring the e-PRO® Certification course, the only technology course offered and endorsed by NAR. You don't have to be a technology expert to attend this program. Get in tune with the wants and needs of today's Internet-empowered buyers and sellers. Start working smarter. Enroll at this FREE workshop and receive a $25 discount from the normal $359 fee and an 8-month enrollment (instead of 6 months) for this online course. Call 1.866.377.0627 (toll free) or click the link below to sign up today! e-PRO® Workshop at MAAR's Office:
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Seeking Five Good Neighbors to Receive $10,000 Grants
The winners will receive a $10,000 grant for their community cause, national publicity, travel expenses to the convention and a crystal trophy. Entries must be received by May 22, 2009. Entry Forms, Rules, Criteria | FAQ Source: REALTOR® Magazine, National Association of REALTORS® |
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Free webinars have been designed to give businesses some smart and imaginative solutions for planning a Direct Mail advertising campaign. The webinars can be found on www.usps.com/directmailonline and anyone can sign up for free. Webinar Topics Mail Piece Design – Wednesday, April 29, 2009, Noon–1:00 p.m. Address List – Wednesday, May 13, 2009, Noon–1:00 p.m. The webinars will teach you how to create postcards, purchase mailing lists, and design entire mailing campaigns on your computer from start to finish, while providing training and ideas from industry experts. Source: U.S. Postal Service |
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Want to talk about the local housing market? Dig into research tools? Talk about "todaying" your marketing? Maximize your strengths? Get some fish in your social net•work? Break borders? Brush up on REALTOR® safety? Take your green movement out of the vegetable garden? Straighten your knowledge curve on government affairs? We have a specialist for you. To have one or several MAARtians come to your office or other company gathering, contact Chelsie Foty at chelsief@mplsrealtor.com or 952.988.3135. Staff visits depend upon schedule and availability. |
L. Hunter Lovins is president and founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions, a nonprofit organization in Colorado. An internationally recognized leader in helping companies and communities profit from more sustainable practices, Lovins has co-authored 12 books. Her areas of expertise include globalization, land management, energy, water, and green and community economic development. She is also a founding Professor of Sustainable Business at Presidio School of Management and was named Time Magazine's 2000 Hero for the Planet.
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